Skin cancer treatments cost Victorian hospitals more than $122 million a year, according to research from Deakin University and Cancer Council Victoria.

Public hospitals spend $50-55 million treating the disease and their private counterparts about $72 million.

“Much of the cost burden associated with skin cancer has been attributed to the primary care system – GPs and dermatologists, for example – but this is a disease that is also placing a huge burden on our public hospital system,” Deakin Health Economics Lead Researcher Sophy Shih said.

“Yet, ironically, it is also one of the most preventable cancers, and efficient, affordable and effective prevention programs are available.”

Cancer Council Victoria Prevention Director Craig Sinclair says the findings highlight the importance of prevention programs.

The council says its SunSmart program prevented more than 43,000 cancers and 1400 premature deaths from 1988-2010, producing a net saving of $92 million in healthcare costs.

“But the work is not over,” Mr Sinclair said. “We know the number of skin cancers is expected to rise with our growing and ageing population.

“As this study shows, sustained investment in skin cancer prevention can ease the strain on the healthcare system, as well as Victorian lives.”